5 R.I. ways to spend Father's Day

A hike in Westerly, visit to the RISD Museum and the Bristol Oyster Festival are among the options.

By Scott TurnerSpecial to The Journal

For many families, it’s not hard to find a good man in their lives. It’s the fathers, who serve as role models, showing children, spouses and partners how good men act.

Father’s Day, on Sunday, is a chance to honor the male role models in your family. One way to express what you love and admire about dad is to enjoy an outdoor event or adventure together. Consider these opportunities to create a lasting memory.

Newport Polo

Start the celebration the evening before, when the U.S. and French polo teams face off at 5 p.m. Saturday at the Newport International Polo Grounds, 250 Linden Lane in Portsmouth. Picnic with family and friends, or visit the food trucks, all under an open sky cooled by sea breezes. The family dog, leashed, of course, is welcome.

Visit nptpolo.com/index.cfm for details and ticket prices.

Wahaneeta Preserve

Hit the trail in Westerly for a free Father’s Day hike, 2-3 p.m. Sunday. A moderate-level walk in this former Girl Scout camp, the event is part of a statewide effort, called Rhode Island Great Outdoors Pursuit, that encourages families to explore the natural world. The 72-acre preserve, located on Moorehouse Road, is mostly wooded wetlands, with trails that also traverse a meadow, pond and stream.

For more information, visit westerlylandtrust.org.

RISD Museum

Every Sunday, the museum is free from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Check out thousands of objects of art and design, from ancient to modern day. Browse galleries devoted to artwork from Egypt, Greece and Rome and Asia, as well as costumes and textiles and decorative art. Take a pause from the exhibits by stopping in to the Pearl Café and museum store. Enter at 20 North Main St. or 224 Benefit St., Providence.

Visit risdmuseum.org for details.

Bristol Oyster Festival

The 4th Annual Bristol Oyster Festival, to benefit the March of Dimes, will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at DeWolf Tavern, 259 Thames St. in Bristol. Admission is free but there are fees for food, beverages and some activities. Sample a range of oysters and enjoy live-shucking demonstrations, food trucks, face painting and more, including presentations on the growth and importance of local oysters.

For more information, visit http://bit.ly/2soPXux.

Hit a waterway

Rent sit-on-top kayaks from Providence Kayak, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Waterplace Park, 10 Memorial Boulevard to paddle the heart of Providence. Visit providencekayak.com for fees and more information. Enjoy a narrated daytime tour or sunset cruise out to Providence Harbor via Providence River Boat Company, 10 a.m. to sunset, leaving docks at the Hot Club, 575 South Water St. in Providence. For fees and other rental information, visit providenceriverboat.com/fathers-day-tours. Finally, head out into the open waters of Narragansett Bay for a Father’s Day Sail aboard the Adirondack II, an 80-foot schooner based at Bowen’s Wharf in Newport. For times, ticket prices and more, visit sail-newport.com/browse-by-theme/fathers-day-sail.

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